Horse racing enthusiasts know that the key to making informed bets is understanding the wealth of information available on racecards. At The Races (ATR) offers a highly detailed racecard system, complete with icons and symbols to represent form, conditions, and other important insights about each horse. This guide explains these elements and provides tips on how to use them effectively.


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Understanding the Icons

Form Icons

The form icons are designed to give you a quick visual snapshot of a horse’s performance under specific conditions. Here’s what they mean:

CD (Course & Distance): Indicates the horse has won (blue) or been placed (grey) over today’s course and distance. A gold icon shows a 50% or better win rate.

D (Distance): Similar to CD but focuses only on the distance.

C (Course): Highlights the horse’s success at the track.

Hcp (Handicap): Shows that the horse has performed well at today’s official rating or higher.

G (Going): Represents success on the current type of ground (e.g., soft, firm).

HG (Headgear): Performance with headgear (e.g., blinkers) matching what the horse will wear today.

Cl (Class): Demonstrates success in the race’s class level.

S (Surface): Indicates success on today’s surface type (e.g., turf, all-weather).


How to Use:
Look for blue or gold icons as they signify strong performance in relevant conditions. A horse with multiple gold icons may be a strong contender under today’s circumstances.


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Additional Information

ATR racecards also include a range of symbols to provide deeper insights into each horse’s recent history and equipment:

BF (Beaten Favourite): The horse was a favorite last time but failed to win, potentially indicating strong expectations today.

MM (Market Movers): Identifies horses with significant betting activity, either as a steamer (odds shortening) or drifter (odds lengthening).

ATR (Tipster Support): Shows which horses are backed by ATR’s expert tipsters.

v/b/h: Denotes the use of specific headgear, which can influence performance.

WS/WS2 (Wind Surgery): Indicates if the horse has undergone surgery to improve breathing and whether it’s the first or second run post-surgery.


How to Use:
Pay attention to horses with BF status as they often represent unfinished business. Combine this with form icons and other indicators for a fuller picture.